Course Policies
Syllaweb
Projects
Hyperpacket
Resources
Course Links
Virtual Class
Grading

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
The mission of ASU’s Writing Programs is to introduce students to the importance of writing in the work of the university and to develop their critical reading, thinking and writing skills so that they can successfully participate in that work. Writing is intellectual work, and the demands of writing within the university community include the need:

• to synthesize and analyze multiple points of view;
• to articulate and support one's own position regarding various issues; and
• to adjust writing to multiple audiences, purposes, and conventions.

Students in our courses are expected to engage the ideas encountered in academic and serious public discourse, to develop complex ideas and arguments through serious consideration of different perspectives, and to connect their life experiences with ideas and information they encounter in classes.

English 394 focuses on the conventions and plasticity of electronic communication and is designed to increase students' awareness and understanding of how writers in various professions will create and communicate knowledge in increasingly virtual environments. Our goal throughout the semester will be to critically evaluate the impact of technology on writing, society and culture and our role in "composing cyberspace."

Writing, computers, and the Internet are at the center of this course. A substantial portion of this course will be taught using the Internet, and several weeks of the semester will be devoted to techniques in conducting research on the Internet. We will also discuss the concept of hypertext and its relationship to your own writing. And, we will do some web-based writing throughout the semester. In doing so, we will investigate the ways the Internet has influenced writing and vice versa..

Several big questions arise about what it means to "write" with computers. Here are a few we might consider:

• How does electronic text change the nature of writing?
• What sort of future, if any, awaits the traditional book?
• Are the World-Wide Web and other hypertextual media changing writing as we know it?
• What are the conventions of these media?
• How do we read such texts?

REQUIRED TEXTS/SUPPLIES:

 

 

 

• Kress, Gunther. Literacy In The New Media Age. New York: Roultledge, 2003.
• McAlpine, Rachel. Web Word Wizardry: A Guide to Writing for the Web and Internet. Berkeley: Ten Speed Press, 2001.

• Guide to ASU's Writing Programs.
• University Policies/Student Affairs Office: Student Code of Conduct, including: Student Academic Integrity, Sexual Harassment, Class Disruption
• 2 new 3 1/2" disks
• An ASUrite account
• Stapler and staples (standard size--trust me on this one) OR binder clips

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Course Requirements and Grading
The policies and procedures listed here are a supplement to those listed in the ASU Writing Programs Guide

 

Your final grade will be calculated using the +/- system. That is,  you will receive  final grades—if you deserve receiving them—of A+, A-, B+, B-, and C+ etc) 

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Attendance and Participation:
Because so much of your learning will take place both in the physical class and in the virtual class space, you must attend class and participate online on a regular basis to receive credit for this course. To pass this class, you cannot miss more than 4 classes (of both or any combination of onsite or online classes). More than 4 absences will result in an E  for the course.

Note:  "Attendance" onsite means being present, on time, and prepared for the entire class period (i.e., having completed assigned reading and writing tasks, and having required texts and materials available to work with during the class period). "Attendance" online means participating in the assigned activities and completing whatever tasks are assigned by the designated time. Failure to do so will result in an absence. Beyond this policy, I expect students to make every effort to attend all meetings and to miss class only in rare and unavoidable circumstances. Should you arrive after I have called the roll, it is your responsibility to ensure that I correct the roll at the end of class. Note also that if I'm not here during the first 15 minutes of class, please assume class has been cancelled.

Note #2 : If I cannot attend class for some reason, I will try to contact you via-email or have a colleague post a sign indicating the class is cancelled. However , if neither of these options is possible, you should wait for me in the classroom for fifteen minutes. If I do not arrive after that time, you may then leave and assume class is cancelled for the day.

Teacher Conferences:
You should try to visit with me in my office at least twice during the term to discuss your work and your class performance. Please take this opportunity to let me get to know you a little better. I also encourage you to visit your other professors during their office hours.

Classroom Protocol:
Most of our classtime will be devoted to discussions and workshops, with an occasional lecture, announcements, and other in-class activities. Regardless of the class format, you are expected to be prepared, to listen, to contribute, and to participate in an appropriate fashion. Among other things, this means:

• no off-task use of your computer (e.g., no personal e-mail, Web surfing, or other computer based activities that are not specifically course related)
• computer monitors are to be turned off during class discussions, lectures, and announcements or when otherwise directed
• do not print files during classtime unless otherwise directed
• personal communication devices (cell phones, beepers, and other devices) must be turned off for the entire class period. Unless you are part of an emergency on-call organization--Fire Department, Police Department, EMT, etc.), you should not and will not receive calls during class. Doing so will result in a 0 for the day's participation credit.

On days when a draft is due, you will be expected to have an accessible electronic copy available. Failing to do so affect your grade. Nevertheless, even if your draft is incomplete, it is better to come to class than to miss since missing too many classes could result in your failing the class. Moreover, if you come, you will earn some participation credit. We will also spend class time writing, and you should give your best effort to these writing activities since your participation grade will be affected by this work.

Course Work:
You must come to each class prepared to write, to share your drafts with others, and to revise what you have already written. This means you must work steadily both in class and on your own. You should plan to spend two to three hours outside of class for every hour in class. Writing classes frequently require more time from students than many other classes do. In addition, for many of you, this work will require the use of technologies that may be unfamiliar to you, so be sure to make time for that learning curve. All final projects must be published in the appropriate venue and done so on time.

Also, given the possibility of technological glitches and disasters, I strongly urge you to backup all your work. It could be disastrous for you gradewise if you cannot produce evidence of your work. All major projects must be completed in order to pass the course.

NOTE: As a rule, I try not to penalize students for late work when something unexpected prevents completion of a particular assignment on time. HOWEVER, students who make it a practice to turn in work late should expect that as much as a letter grade will be deducted at the end of the semester from their final grade. In addition, a paper that is more than one week late may be dropped as much as one letter grade. Late in-class and take-home assignments will not be accepted for credit. Again, All four major projects must be completed in order to pass the course.

Computer Technology:
This class will also introduce you to several aspects of computer research and pedagogy. We will frequently be doing class exercises and collaborative work on computer. You do not have to have expertise on the computer to succeed in this class, but you will have to work frequently on computer-aided assignments. There are bound to be technical glitches and frustrations during the semester. Remember that there are usually multiple ways to solve and avoid technical problems by being creative, troubleshooting, and not giving in to frustration. The most effective way to learn about the technology is by talking to other users and taking an active role in problem solving. The helpline for computer problems for ASU students and staff is: 480-965-6500.

If you do not have a computer at home, you'll want to use one of the many ASU Computing Sites

on campus. There are several locations. Although the Computing Commons is the largest site, it is also the busiest, so it's a good idea to explore other smaller sites as well.

The Public Nature of the Class Writing and Discussion:
Part of becoming a good writer is learning to appreciate the ideas and criticisms of others, and in this course our purpose is to come together as a community of writers. Remember that you will often be expected to share your writing with others. Avoid writing about things that you may not be prepared to subject to public scrutiny or that you feel so strongly about that you are unwilling to listen to perspectives other than your own. This does not mean that you are not entitled to an opinion but that you adopt positions responsibly, contemplating the possible effects on others, that you take responsibility for your words and for engagement with the words of others.

Plagiarism:
To plagiarize is to present as your own any work that is not exclusively your own. Plagiarism of all or a portion of any assignment will be strictly penalized. For more information on plagiarism, see ASU's Writing Programs Guide and University Policies at http://www.asu.edu/studentlife/.

Note:
All major projects must be submitted to pass this course. Late in-class and take-home assignments will not be accepted for credit.

Withdrawals: University deadlines

**The restricted course withdrawal requires an instructor's signature indicating that the student is passing the course.

Disability Resources for Students:
ASU complies with all federal and state laws and regulations regarding discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). If you have a disability and need a reasonable accommodation for equal access to education at ASU, please contact Disability Resources for Students at 480-965-1234. Please feel free to discuss the special accommodations with all of your teachers.

Problem Solving:
All of us struggle with our limits, and I sometimes suspect that no one is more conscious of that than students in writing courses. Keep in mind, as you set your priorities, that I am very moved by students who visibly struggle with their limits.

I encourage you to also see me during office hours, e-mail me, or make an appointment anytime you wish to discuss issues connected with this class and/or your performance. Students frequently tell me that the most helpful feature of the class was coming to my office and discussing their writing projects and/or classroom concerns. Please discuss concerns with me while we still have options. I tend to be generous with students who take the initiative to consult with me about concerns while they are still `situations,' i.e., not-yet-crises, and downright testy with those who permit things to slide until a crisis is unavoidable.

If anything arises about which you want an opinion or advice other than mine, please contact the Writing Programs Associate Director at 480/965-3853 or see our Administrative Assistant in LL314.

Dr. Katherine Heenan	Office Hours: T: 9:30-10:30, W: 10-12, Th: 1-2 & by appt.
Office: LL 309B	E-mail: K.Heenan@asu.edu
Phone: 5-8881	Class Meets: TTh 1:40-2:44, CPCOM 203